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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  MS80 

(716)  873-4S03 


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CIHM/iCMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canau:an  Institute  for  Historical  IVIicroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The 
to  tl 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  a^nilable  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 


D 
D 
D 
D 

D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restai«.':r6e  et/ou  peliicul^e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


D 


Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  init  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  Mure  serr6e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
11  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout^es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  film^es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires- 


L'institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6td  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite.  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  methods  normals  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


D 
D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelliculdes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe< 
Pages  ddcolor^es,  tachet^es  ou  piqudes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtach^es 

Showthrough> 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  in^gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppldmentaire 


I      I  Pages  damaged/ 

I      I  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~|  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

r~~|  Pages  detached/ 

r~~l  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 


The 
post 
of  tl 
film 


Grig 

begi 

the 

sion 

othe 

first 

sion 

or  il 


The 
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TINl 
whi( 

Map 
diffe 
entir 
begii 
right 
requ 
mett 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M  film^es  d  nouveau  de  fa^on  d 
obtenir  la  meilSeure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmd  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiqui  ci~dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


7 


26X 


30X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


laire 
I  details 
lues  du 
t  modifier 
iger  une 
» filmage 


J6e8 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanlts 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Nova  Scotia  Public  Arciiives 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  bacl(  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


L'exemplaire  film*  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Nova  Scotia  Public  Archives 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6x6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  I'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimde  sont  film6s  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film^s  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  —^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


re 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  6  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichd,  il  est  film6  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  6  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


y  errata 
»d  to 

nt 

ie  pelure, 

9on  d 


U 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

32X 


*>REPORT-> 


|f0iiii^i:it^|toTtox);^  S^^tui; 


^-,,r^.jn  ■amir-i'-T. 


DAN   S.  GIFFIN, 


Heuvelton,  St  Lawrence  Cu,  N.  Y 


— — r^^^^^^^^T- 


OdDENSIiUl^d; 

IlM'lMtl.lCAN    AND   .lol  UNAI.    I'ltlNT. 
I  H8  1 . 


HA:.,.  ...V,   I..  S. 


^loiimC]3  to  ^|<a\)(i:  ^coti(ii> 


In  acconlanrc  with  previous  arrangornontx,  T  loft  home 
Ain'iist  I-'),  ISHI,  for  thr  |iiir|t()sc  of  iiivcstiLratint;  how  iuiic]i 
(»f  tnith  t'xi.stfd  \n  tlic  traditions  of  tlic  ditlin  family  with 
n-frrcnco  to  th»ir  anccstnr,  Simon  (.lilUn  nf  Mulifax,  Province 
of  Nova  Scotia. 

I  went  hy  tlic  way  of  Hoston,  Htnjipinr,'  for  a  time  in  Con- 
necticut and  Massachusetts,  for  the  jiuritose  of  eonsultin<,' 
with  niemliers  of  the  family  residing  there,  and  olttaining 
Huch  information  as  I  couM.  In  both  of  tliese  States,  I  met 
many  of  the  (k'scemlants  whom  1  had  never  seen  hefore,  and 
visited  the  i,'raves  of  those  of  the  second  generation. 

In  this  rejtort  I  shall  confine  myself  principally  to  such 
particulars  as  pertain  to  the  l)U.siness  part  of  the  journey. 
The  first  (piestion  to  l»e  answered  is  :  "  Was  there  ever  any 
property  in  Nova  Scotia  belonging  to  our  ancestor,  and  if  so, 
how  much  and  what?"     In  answer  t(»  tlie  foregoing,  1  found: 

Isf.  A  deed  on  reconl  from  William  Welsh  to  Simon  (JiHin, 
conveying  f.S.OOO)  three  thousand  acres  of  land,  located  be- 
tween the  Muscodoboit  and  Pitjiiswick  Rivers,  about  twcnty- 
eifht  miles  east  of  the  City  of  Halifax.  This  deed  conveys 
the  title  absolutely  to  said  Simon,  and  is  dated  March  lo, 
177i.  A  release  of  the  dower  interest  of  Ann  Wel.sh.as  wife 
of  William  Welsh,  is  added,  wliich  release  is  acknowledged 
by  said  Ann  before  .lohn  Cunningham,  J.  P.,  April  4th,  177 1. 
Then  follows  a  receij»t,  signed  by  William  Welsh,  for  ninety 
one  pounds  currency,  being  the  consideration  for  the  land 
con\  eyed.     This  receipt  is  dated  March  lo,  1774-.     This  deed 


was  n-conleil  Ainil  7tli,  1771.  in  lJ«iok  I'J,  pages  4.*{()  to  YM, 
iiielusivf. 

'2>/(/.  I  r<»iiii<l  ill  til''  rccitnls  III"  tlic  ('n»\vn  Laiul  Dcpart- 
ineiit.  a  grant  <»f  twcnty-nim'  tliousaml  seven  linndretl  and 
lifty  acioH  of  land,  more  or  leNS,  iVoiii  (lie  ( 'lovvn  to  seventy 
difi'erent  persons,  one  of"  wlioni  was  Sinion  (liflin,  who  was 
to  receive  five  liundnd  ac!'e>«  for  liis  sliare.  The  land  is 
located  in  the  IJoiinty  of  Liiiieiilniig  in  the  town  of  ( 'hester. 
The  grant  is  <lated  Octo'ner  .'{1st,  I7(i'>,  and  is  recorded  in  the 
C'rown  liiind  Department  in  Hook  (I,  jiages  ."iicS,  etc.  In  the 
office  of  the  Register  of  Deed.s  at  Ijuiieiilnirg,  I  found  a  iiia|», 
which  locates  tliese  five  hundred  acres  on  the  westerly  hank 
of  Middle  River,  alxmt  four  miles  Nortlierly  from  the  Village 
of  Chester.  On  this  map,  the  grant  is  designated  as  the 
"  (JifUn  fgrant)  of  five  hundred  acre.s."  This  land  is  ahout 
lifty  miles  West  of  the  City  of  Halifax,  and  in  traveling  the 
highway  from  the  Village  of  Chester  to  the  Village  of  Lunen- 
burg, the  road  cro.sses  oiu;  end  of  the  grant,  commencing  at 
the  Westerly  I'lid  of  the  hritlge  across  Middle  River.  There 
is  also  a  highway  running  Nortlierly  through  the  grant, 
which  intersects  the  Lunenhiirg  i<>a<l,<d"  which  more  hen'after. 

Drd.  1  find  that  l»y  "allotment,"  (that  being  the  name  given 
to  grants  from  the  Crown  prior  to  17'">!>)  lit'  obtained  t'n\o  to 
lot  No.  21,  in  Block  J.  in  the  South  suburbs  of  the  t)ity  (d' 
Halifax.  This  lot  is  located  on  what  is  now  known  as  South 
street,  formerly  called  Tcjbins  street,  North  of  Plea.sant  street. 
The  date  of  this  allotment  is  not  given,  and  cannot  be  learn- 
ed from  the  records.  Jt  is  only  known  that  it  was  prior  to 
17')!>.  ii'»t  No.  li),  in  the  same  block,  was  at  the  same  time 
alloteil  to  John  (iiffin,  who  is  supjtijseil  to  liave  been  a 
brother  ^4'  Simon.  Record  of  above  found  in  Allotment 
l>ook,  page  (10. 

At  tlie  foot  of  South  street,  on  the  bank  of  the  liailx)!-,  was 
formerly  an  old  distillery,  the  first  located  in  Halifax. 
(Jeorge's  Island  is  nearly  o]>posite.  About  forty  years  ago 
there  were  the  remains  of  tlu'  distillery  buildings  on  this  lot. 


Til"'  j^iis  vvitrks  arc  tinw  ItKiatf.l  liric  North  nf  tlu'  ilistilli'rv 
\N  a>  a  LTiiriliri  |pIm|  ainl  (l\v<|lin^r,  |  was  iiiialili-  (<•  liinl  li' 
ever  lia  1  fill''  i<>  this  lot.  'Th^'rc  in  iim  invcniMry  nn  lilc  in 
thr  I'robati'M  olHc'f  >-ho\viiiL,'  the  amount  of  his  estatt'  al'ttT 
•  li'ath.  Thf  whole  aiiionnt  of  rral  t'statf  fouiKl  to  have  hern 
owni'ii  liy  him  is  a.s  follows  : 

IvA    I5y  Ai'i-A  from  William  W.Uh.  :5.<)0(>  acres. 
'2f/i/.    Hy  ;,'rant  from  thf  i 'rouri,  .')()()  acres. 
:if,/.  Oni'  lot  in  the  city  <iit  feet  liy  l.')()  fcj't. 
'I'otal,  .*{,.')()()  acres  aii<l  one  l(»t. 

The  next  (lllestion  is,  as  to  the  title  to  tlie  fore'^oiuL,'.  Wo 
^vill  ei^amine  the  ;{.()(»(>  acres  first. 

It  will  l»e  ohserveil  the  deetl  tor  the  ahove  is  dated  Marcli 
15,  177-t,  recordeil  April  7,  I77i. 

Simon  (lillin  died  Septomber  I>,  177K  Hi>«  second  wife, 
Jennet  (litHn,  died  Decemlier  H,  177").  I  find  ncoided  May 
2.S,  1 7!^iLr' ni'arly  eitfht  years  aftei-  his  death,  in  liook  is, 
j>a<:fes  ISO,  etc.,  an  instiument  dated  March  "Jl-th,  1771.  pnr- 
iJotinLT  to  have  Keen  sie'iicd  hv  Simon  (Jiflin  and  Jennet, 
(iillin,  which  instrument  is  a  "  lieclaratioii  of  tiust,"  and  de- 
clares that  the  died  to  him  from  William  Welsh  of  .•{,<)(>() 
acres  was  a  conveyance  to  him  in  trust  for  the  henetit  of 
Ann  Welsh  and  her  children,  she  being  foimerly  Ann  l>j-o\\ii, 
a  daughter  of  said  Jennet  by  hei'  tiist  husl)and,  Daviil  Hrown 

Hv  this  instrument  thev  l>ind  themselves  under  a  |)enaltv 
of  (iiie  thoiisaml  pounds  to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  saifl 
trust. 

I  also  find  an<jther  record  in  Book  IS,  pages  1S2  to  1!»4, 
inclusive,  of  an  instrument  dated  October  '2'2,  177 1-,  forty-four 
days  afti'j'  Simon's  death,  signcil  by  said  .lennet  ( JitHn,  widow 
of  saiil  Simon  (lilHn.and  reconled  Mayi'l-,  17s2,  nearly  eight 
years  after  his  death,  and  nearly  seven  years  after  her  deatli. 

This  instiument  jiurpoits  to  be  a  dee(l  from  said  Jennet  to 
William  Wt  Ish  conveying  the  aforesaid  .'},()()()  acres.  It  is 
Very  lengthy,  and  recites  minutely  the  j)articulars  of  the 
trust  to   her  husband,  and   says  that  the  consideration    paid 


«; 


tlifn-ior  was  luoiicy  n-ceivfil  ''V  her  as  sulc  executrix  of  licr 
fli.st  liusliiiiitl's  fl)avi»l  IJruwii)  estate,  which  she  was  to  in- 
vest in  hinds  for  thi;  hciiefit  nf  hi  r  dan^htiT  Ann  and  her 
children,  which  saiil  Ann  was  then  (at  the  (bite  thereof)  the 
wife  of  said  William  Welsh.  She  theicfore,  hy  virtue  of  lier 
authority  as  sole  rxeciitrix  of  saiil  David  lirown,  and  as  solo 
executrix  of  said  Siniit?i  (iitlin,  and  for  the  |>ur|)ose  of  carry- 
in;,'  out  the  true  intrnt  of  said  trust  to  Simon  (Jillin,  conveys 
said  .*>,(»(I0  acres  to  William  Wtdsh,  the  liushand  of  said  Ann, 
in  trust,  for  the  Iteiiefit  nf  the  children  of  said  Ann  and 
W^illiam. 

It  ai)|iearK  sini,'ulai-  that  instruments  of  so  mucli  imjtort- 
ance  as  these  twD  last,  if  they  are  jL^enuine,  should  have  re- 
mainecl  so  Inn^f  unrecorded  after  their  execution,  and  ai'ter 
tlie  death  of  the  partit-s  who  had  executed  them. 

From  the  foregoini,'  it  ajipears  to  me  heyond  a  dmiht,  that 
the  heirs  of  Simon  (.Iitlin  have  no  legal  daini  now  that  can 
be  reached  to  any  jtart  of  said  .*{,()()(>  acres  of  lainl.  'I'his  is 
also  the  opiiMon  of  uiy  attorney  at  Halifax,  Samuel  L.  Shan- 
non, KiS(|. 

Secondly,  We  will  examines  tlu-  (juestion  of  title  to  the  ')(>() 
acres. 

Hefoi-e  doin<^  this  I  will  state,  I  procured  a  copy  of  the 
Statute  of  Limitation  with  reference  to  real  I'state  for  tlie 
Province  of  Nova  Scotia,  of  which  the  following  is  the  suit- 
stance  : 

\st.  I'eacealtle  possession  of  lands  for  twenty  years,  gives 
title  to  tile  possessor  as  against  ]iersons  lesiding  in  the 
Province. 

'Ind.  Peaceable   j)Os.session  of  lands  for  forty  years,  gives 
title  to  tlu'  pu,s,s(^ssor  as  against    |»ersons  residing  out   of  tin 
Province 

''^rd.  Peaci'altle  |>osse.ssion  of  lands  for  sixty  yeai's,  gives 
title  tcf  the  j»o.ssessor  as  against  the  Crown. 

I  found  the  .")()0  acres  located  about  tlfty  miles  West  of 
Halifax.      1  went  on  the  land  and  interviewed  the  pco|>le  liv- 


('. 


iii^  tlit'it',  !iinl  IimuhI  tlii'V  nil  knew  it  as  llif  <liHiii  i,'iaiil. 
I  also  ciiiiVfrsf.l  witli  iitln-rs  iTHi.Jin;^'  in  tli-  viciiiily  aii'l 
I'uiiihI  the  t'iict  (if  its  I'tiiiL;  the  (iilliii  j;rai»t  was  ^ft'iu'rally 
kiiduii  liy  tin-  uliltr  iiilial»itaiits.  'riicy  n'|i(»rt('il  t<»  iiif  the 
latnl  was  oiii^inally  covered  with  the  Ix'st  nl'  timlMT.  Tliat  a 
family  iiained  liant/.  and  a  man  named  I'nisiver,  nsi-d  In 
claim  si»me  rii^dits  tu  the  land,  and  weie  amnni^r  ()|,.  ijisj  t,, 
take  |MisMessiun.  They  ale  iiuw  dead.  The  nian  I'idsivei- 
n>e.l  to  sell  to  parties  the  lii^dit  to  ent  timher  on  this  land. 
Altont  jseveiity  yeai's  a^o,  tire  laii  lhr(»ii;^di  the  land,  and  after 
that,  |>eo|i|e  jielped  themselves  to  Mich  timlier  aN  they  wanted. 

.lamiary  llth,  Is^N,  one  (larret  Miller,  a  resident  of  Hali- 
fax, olitaiiied  from  the  (,'rown  a  eraiit  of  this  same  piice  (tf 
laiiil. 

An  elderly  e^eiitlemeii,  a  Hanistt-'r  at  Law,  residint^r  .^t 
linnenltuiLT.  named  Daniel  ( )wen,  informed  nie  that  for  some 
time  said  .Miller  collected  rent  from  those  occii|iyin'4-  'he 
land.  At  last  they  refnseil  to  |iay  any  more.  .Mr.  Owen,  as 
attoiney  tor  Miller,  comnu'iiced  an  ejectment  stiit  aLfaiiist  one 
J3aniel  Lantz,  for  non-|iayment  <»f  rent.  In  the  course  of  the 
trial,  the  defendants,  to  the  surprise  of  .Mr.  ( )wen,  set  u|>  the 
<lefect  of  title  in  .Miller  hy  reason  of  the  hiiicl  liavini,' 
bei'ii  |>revionsly  ;;ranted  to  (lillin.  The  (iitlin  i^iaiit  was 
proven,  and  Miller  lost  his  Ciase.  'I'his  occui'ieil  altoiit  fortv 
years  ai^o.  This  suit  was  rememlpered  hy  most  of  the  inhahi- 
tants.  As  I, ear  as  I  can  learn,  alxjut  .S.')()  acres  of  this  irrant 
has  heeii  taken  possession  of,  and  occupied  ior  a  periiid  of 
forty  }-eais  or  more.  Ah^ut  fifty  acres  has  lieen  occii|>ied  liv 
Jame.s  l>e/aiison  fir  ahout  four  years,  and  alioui  one  hundred 
acres  has  not  heen  taken  up  li\  any  person,  thus  leavini;' 
ahout  one  hundred  and  tifty  acres  which  i-aii  now  he  olitain- 
ed,  and  aliout  .■>")()  acres  to  which  title  is  lost  hv  adverse 
j)os.si'ssion.     These  amounts  are  estimated. 

My  coun.sel  advised  me  tliat  to  olitain  thi^  hui<l  to  which 
title  is  not  lost  hy  adverse  possession,  all  that  is  necessarv  to 
do  is  to  take  possession  of  that  not  oceii]iiei|,  an<l  to  olitain 
that  occupied  for  less   than  fort)  years,  a  suit  of  ejf.-ctment 


8 


shonltl  lir  ciiiiiiiKhci'.l,  Til' flic  uccii|iaiit  ivIumc  to  rnnovc)  ami 
a.H  fvitli'iirt'    |ii.Mliicr  llir    iTcur.l    slmwiiij^    tlif    niigiiiul  ^'liUit, 

Ulul   istillilisll    tll<'   ^flHJilix^ry. 

Till'  laml  is  not  n-^MUtifil  valnul'lf,  iiinl  jii'l^'int,'  fnnii  a|t- 
pfaraiiL-i-,  I  am  ">f  tlif  sami;  (ipiniun.  If  is  niiii;li  aii«l  stony, 
(iojil  has  Ik'cii  iliscovi'i't'il  witliiii  altoiit  two  milcH  of  the  tract 
()ti(iolil  Itivff,  liut  not  in  |i;iyiii,u'  <|iiaiititit'H.  Tlu'i-c  arc 
f  wtlvf  <liir«  niif  lu^'HoiiH  who  nsj.lc  oti  the  <,'raiit  with  their 
liiniilifs. 

'//tinily.  As  fu  jut  No  •Jl.iii  IJlock  .1.,  of  flic  south  siilnirlis 

of  Halifax. 

I  liml  this  lot  was  conveyed  hy  deed  l>y  Simon  (litlin  to 
.lohn  Carrol,  Octol.ci-  f!th,  I7">!>.  uhieh  deed  was  duly  record- 
ed in  iJook  .">,  |'a;^'c  17,  May  .*{,  17(!<>. 

1  would  further  report  that  I  fouml  no  conveyances  re- 
corded relative  to  any  of  the  |»roj»erty  owned  hy  said  Simon 
(iitlin,  except  as  herein  stated.  One  jfcntleman,  named 
Isaiah  liezanson,  jured  72  years,  informed  me  tiiat  about  fifty 
yi'ars  aeo.  two  men  ap|ieared  in  the  vicinity  of  the  ')()()  aero 
"frant.who  claimed  to  he  ( litHns,  wh<»  .stated  they  intended 
to  iiuild  oil  the  nnint.  I  reinarked  to  him  they  were  nut 
(lillins.  His  reply  was,  "I  never  thought  they  were." 
After  they  left,  he  said,  IMirit/  ami  Jacoh  Lantz  claimed  the 
land  was  left  hy  the  two  men  in  their  charge.  Tht>  men 
never  returned. 

In  Boston,  .Mass..  1  examineil  the  old  records  with  refer- 
ence lo  manianes,  and  found  in  cor.i|»liance  w  itli  the  law,  tc- 
t|uiiiiig  a  publication  of  marriage  three  weeks  prit»r  t(»  itn 
being  solemnized,  the  following: 

••  I'ul.li.^lir.l    Dr.VllilKT  111.    17;5!». 

Simon  (Iiuii'KN       /       Maniiil  liv  Kcv.  .I.ihn  Mooroliciul,  .l.iiimny 
.Iknnkt  Li:.iim.\n.  S  lil.  IT:?'.'*." 

It  will  be  ob.scrved  there  must  be  an  (;rror  in  one  of  the 
foregoing  dati's  ;  either  the  jtulilicatitMi  shouhl  l>e  December 
'1\,  17JiN,  or  the  marriage  should  be  January  21,  17 H).  If 
the  date   given   for  the   marriage   is   correct,  the   pultlication 

should  liave  l>een    December  'J I,    I7'SS. 


'riicn-  is  uIhii  (III  error  in  tin-  s|if||iii^'  of  the  iduih',  uri  errnr 
wliicli  I  luiiml  \vii>t  fiiiiiiiiuii  ill  tlir  curly  lii>t"iy  of  rcconls, 
li'itli  in  this  (•iiiintry  an<l  in  Nova  Scotia. 

The  llcv.  .loliii  Mu(iit1ii'H(|,  wild  |M'i'|orin(M|  tln'  inarriai^o 
ccnnionv,  \va.s  a  I'n-Mlivtrrian. 

I  also  t'oiiiiij  iTCMnlc"!  anotlii-r  inairiaL,'*'  l>y  tlic  sanir  clorfjy- 
niaii,  Itciri;;  Kohi-rt  (JiHiii  to  Maruant  Lfiijliniari.  Aliove  the 
latlit's  lust  naiiH',  in  pencil  niaik,  is  writti-n  •'  Lichiiian,"  and 
Ih'Iow  till'  saiin-  nanif,  in  ink,  is  writti-n,  "  I'li't.  Lislnnan."  I 
nifiition  this  to  show  thf  uncertainty  of  the  early  recordn 
with  reference  to  spell  in;,' ;  also  to  show  there  were  other 
^litliiis  ill  the  ;'<»nntry  than  our  ancestor. 

From  Mrs.  Kli/aheth  Al»l'e,  n\'  Knheld,  ( 'i.nn.,  j  learned  she 
knew  her  j^'randniother,  Kli/aheth  M<irrison  (horn  174(1  and 
dietl  l.S:i4j  in  her  life  time.  She  (.Mrs.  .M.)  was  a  <laiii,diter  of 
Simon  (iitlin  of  Ilalifa.v.  From  her  ^'randiiii>tlier,  .Mrs.  Alil>e 
learned  her  mother  (wife  of  Simon )  died  while  Kli/aheth  was 
a  small  "fii '  ainl  after  her  tleath  she  resiiled  with  her  ^'rand- 
mother  "  I  '•'.iiman  '   in  lloston. 

The  intoiiiiution  ohtained  corroiiorates  this,  as  the  daiiifh- 
ter  Klizadeth  was  (i  years  <■{'  a^fe  when  her  mother  tlied 

Amon^' the  records  of  St  Paul's  ( 'hiirch.  ( "ity  of  llalifaN, 
I  found  the  record  of  tlu;  fniu'ial  of  Simon  (Jitfeii  "to  have 
Iteen  Septemlier  11th,  1774." 

In  the  old  Ennli.sh  Ixirial  <,'rouiid  of  St.  Tanls,  in  the  City 
of  l|jilifa.\,  I  found  the  i^raves  of  Simon  (Jiftin,  his  two  wives, 
and  John  (iilliii  who  is  su|»[)osed  to  have  oeeii  a  hntther. 
The  foUowiii!.,'  is  an  e.vact  copy  of  the  inscription  on  thfir 
head  stones : 

"  Ili'If    l,\illl   tlir  ImmIv  "I 

Mr.  Siiiiiiii  ^'ili'iii  v\li()  Driiaitcd 

tills  lit'c  Sfpl.'r  y.'  !M!i.  177  1 

.\^'c(l  (;;{  y<'iir>. 

Al.-«i  .Ifuct  L^illfii  \f  uif  111  .Mr. 

SiiiKiii  !,'iircn  wliii   Dcjiartcil 

tills  IM'v  |)|..'r.  ye  27tli  17.") J 

\<^vi\  :]  1  ycai's." 

IJy  the  side  of  these  is  another  ijrave  with  a  h.'ad  stone,  in- 
s('ri|)lioii  as  hjllows  ; 


Public  Arch'"":  '^f  N'-.vi  Scotia 


10 


•'  Ihrt;  lies  liiiiii-il  tlic  I'.<mI\ 
uf    Mrs.    June    (Jiliin 
Witlow  1)1" 
Mr.   Siinoii    (iilliii 
Diiil  I3uc'r  Mil  1775 
Agwl  5!)  ycaiH. 
The  Sweet  reiiu'in])rance  of  llu;  Just 
Shall  Floiiiisli  when  they  sleep  in  Oust." 

In  every  other  place  whore  lier  name  occurs  it  is  spelled 
Jennet,  both  wives  having,'  the  same  name. 

By  the  side  of  these  graves  is  another,  supposed  to  be  a 
brother,  with  a  head  stone.     The  inscription  thereon  reads  as 

follows : 

"  Here  lies  buried 

tlie  Body  of  Mr. 

John  Giffin 

Who  Departed  thi.s 

Life  Ju'y  ye  6th 

17(51 

Aged  49  years." 

I  found  considerable  difficulty  in  searching  the  early 
records  on  account  of  their  being  defective. 

In  the  case  of  the  grant  from  the  Crown  of  the  five  hun- 
dred acres,  also  the  allotment  of  the  lot  in  the  city,  the  name 
of  Simon  Giffin  did  not  appear  in  the  indexes  to  the  records. 

I  found  the  first  while  examining  the  books  under  other 
names ;  and  the  second  I  found  by  the  aid  of  the  surveyor 
whom  I  engaged  to  assist  me. 

I  examined  carefully  every  thing  in  the  shape  of  books, 
or  papers,  I  could  find  that  I  thought  would  ])ossibly  throw 
any  light  on  the  subject  of  my  investigations  or  history  of 
the  family.  Sometimes  I  was  rewarded,  and  oftener  found 
nothing. 

In  the  library  of  the  Historical  Society,  of  Halifax,  its 
Secretary,  Mr.  Bullmer,  showed  me  a  little,  old  diary  kept  by 
Rev.  John  Seceombe,  an  orthodox  Congregationalist  preacher 
at  Chester,  who  sometimes  also  preached  in  Halifax. 

In  this  diary,  under  date  of  Dec.  4,  iT'iO,  he  mentions  "vis- 
itinii  a  Mr.  Marshall   with   Mi-  (iiffin."     Under  date  of  Dec. 


11 


10,  I7'><>,  he  iveonlN,  ••  VisitiMl  Mr  ,|,,siali  Mui.sluill  jiimI  Mr 
Simon  (iiilin  in  ye  cv(-•nin^^  uml  su|.jk'«I  with  Mr.  (litlin  npon 
Irt'sli  niuttiin  ami  cariuts,  cliofHs.anil  a  wvx  i-odd  liasiv  Duddin"- 
niaik'  of  New  fc:n<,dan<l  meal,  a  ^Mvat  rarity  in  these  parts." 

I  assumoil  eontroi  of  thr  nnoecupieil  portions  of  the  ."»()() 
acres  to  the  tbilowintr  e.xteiit: 

I  made  arran;L,a'ments  t(»  liavc  i»ritited,  and  set  mo  a  si"^! 
forhidding  all  jKisons  eiittinn-  timlter  on  tlie  land. 

1  also  made  arran-jjenirnts,  so  far  as  1  eonld,  to  oiitain  con- 
sent from  the  local  officers,  to  have  a  sii;n  hoard  ei'ectetl  at 
the  entrance  to  the  hi<,d]\vay  jtassing  throuirh  the  «.,n-ant,  witli 
the  followinj,'  tliereon,  viz.;  "(iifhn  Street."  Tliis  consent  can- 
not be  obtaineil  till  Jany.  next,  when  the  hoard  of  oHicers  meet. 

In  the  ollice  of  tlie  Court  of  Probate  I  found  the  ori<'inal 
will  of  Simon  (iiffin.  which  is  dated  June  :>lst,  ITdS. 

The  records  of  the  oflice  show  this  will  was  jtie.sonteil  lor 
probate  Sept.  14.  1771,  and  duly  proven,  and,  "Probate 
granted  with  a  copy  of  the  will  annexed,  the  l.")th  S(;pt.  to 
Jennet  Githn,  widow  and  relict  of  the  .said  deceased,  sole  ex- 
ecutrix named  in  .sai<l  wil',  she  having  first  sworn  to  the 
faithful  discharge  of  tliat  trust  " 

By  the  terms  of  this  will  his  wife,  "Jennet  (iitHn,"  has  the 
sole  management  of  the  whol(>  »{'  his  estate,  ival  and  personal, 
the  interest  of  which  is  made  over  t(.heras  long  as  .she 
lives,  also  as  much  of  tlie  principal  of  the  whole  as  she  thinks 
proper,  or  may  want  during  her  natural  life.  The  remaind<'i- 
to  be  equally  divided  between  his  children,  namely,  (Jecjrge 
UilHn,  Simon  (Jiflin,  Elizabeth  (JifHn  and  John  (Jiflin. 

1  also  found  that  Letters  of  Administration  were  granted 
July  2:^,  1770,  "of  the  goods,  chattels,  and  credits  i>f  (Jeorge 
ClifKn,  late  of  Halifax,  Mariner,  dec'd,  to  i'uny  (iitlin, 
widow,  and  relict  of  the  dec'd." 

The  traditions  of  the  family  are,  tha.  Oeorge  Ciiflin,  son  of 
Simon,  was  a  mariner,  ami  was  lost  at  sea.  The  al»ove  ive<»rd 
would  seem  to  corroboratt;  this.  I  have  wiitten  the  w  idow's 
name  "Puny,"  the  record  is  not  distinct  (Miough  to  show 
whetlier  this  is  tlu'  correct  name  or  not. 


12 

r  oljtained  certified  cojties  of  all  official  locords  I  conid  find 
jtertaiuiiig'  to  Simon  Giffin.     Tlicso  ai'e  a.s  tbllows; 

1st.   Allotment  of  lot  21  in  block  J. 

2d.  Deed  of  3,()()()  acres  from  \Vm.  Welsh  to  Simon  Giffin. 
jd.  D(!claration  of  Trust  from  Simon  (}iffiii  to  wife. 

^th.  Deed  from  Jennet  (Jiflin  to  \^\x\.  Wtlsh. 

5th.  Grant  from  the  Crown  of  oOO  acivs  to  Siinon  Giffin. 

6th.  Grant  from  the  Ciown  of  the  same  oOO  acres  to  Gar- 
ret Miliar. 

yth.  Copy  of  will. 

8th,  The  depositions  of  the  subscribing  witnesses  to  the  will. 

Qth.  Minutes  of  the  Probate  Court  granting  letters  to  the 
widow. 

loth.  A  copy  of  the  deed  from  Simon  Giffin  to  John  Carrol. 

This  last  and  the  first  are  not  certified. 

The  (question  now  arrises,  what  action  do  the  heirs  desire 
to  take  with  reference  to  so  nnu'h  of  the  estate  a.  can  now 
be  procured  ? 

If  those  interested  will  communicate  their  wishes  as  to 
this  to  me,  I  will  try  and  make  the  same  known. 

I  could  find  no  record  of  any  personal  proj)('rty  whatever, 
and  no  person  of  sufficient  age  to  renieml)er  him,  he  having 
died  107  years  ago.  During  the  progress  of  the  work  I  have 
obtained  a  great  deal  of  information  relative  to  the  different 
branches  of  the  family,  which  I  hope  to  put  in  shape  for 
future  reference. 

I  have  also  a  genealogy  of  the  family,  showing  the  descen- 
dants of  Simon  Giffin,  of  Halifax,  number  over  eleven  hun- 
dred persons.  I  was  accompanied  the  first  three  days  of  my 
work  at  Halifax  by  C.  H.  Giffin  of  Brookfield,  Mass. 

I  should  l)e  pleased  to  have  members  of  the  family  notify 
me  in  the  future,  when  additions  are  made  to  these,  giving 
the  names,  date  of  birth,  and  names  of  parents.  Also  the 
date  of  death,  and  avocation  of  those  who  arrive  at  maturity 
and  become  heads  of  families. 

Very  Rt'spt^ctfully  Submitted. 

DAN  S.  GIFFIN, 

HeiiviitoH,St.LauKCo.,N.  V. 


H' 


^'^''Vl    Sroill 


